Dan Daly Opportunity Fund

The Dan Daly Opportunity Fund, administered by the Chaffee County Community Foundation (CCCF), offers targeted funding to support high school wrestling programs in the state of Colorado. CCCF, a community-focused organization based in Buena Vista, Colorado, is committed to addressing local needs through philanthropic investment, particularly in youth programming. Through the generosity of the Dan Daly Opportunity Fund, the foundation provides a single annual grant to a public high school wrestling program demonstrating a clear financial need and commitment to youth development. The grant is designed exclusively for public high school wrestling programs within the state of Colorado. Charter and private schools are not eligible. To qualify, applicants must currently operate a wrestling program and must demonstrate how the requested funds will address expenses beyond the standard operational budget. Acceptable uses for the grant include, but are not limited to, new equipment purchases and travel costs for competitions. Applicants are required to submit both prior year and current year budgets to substantiate the additional financial needs and justify the use of grant funds. Applications for the 2026 cycle open on March 1st and are due by April 30th. The review process concludes with award decisions announced by August 1st, and funds disbursed by August 30th. Programs receiving funding must utilize the grant within one year of receipt. Importantly, the grant is not intended for general operating expenses already covered in standard budgets, and awarded funds are restricted to the specific purposes outlined in the application. Preference is given to programs that clearly demonstrate financial need, either at the program level or for the youth participants themselves. The application process emphasizes transparency and fiscal accountability. Each applicant must explicitly outline the intended use of funds, and successful recipients are required to submit a final grant report one year after receiving the award. This report must document how the funds were spent, ensuring alignment with the stated goals of the application and grant requirements. Certain exclusions apply to this grant opportunity. Political organizations, social clubs, and any entities that conflict with the donor's interests or values are ineligible. Additionally, any organization that discriminates against individuals based on religion in staffing, volunteer roles, or service provision is also excluded. The grant must comply with applicable federal and state laws governing private foundation funding. CCCF provides interested applicants with access to the application form and encourages review of the application questions ahead of time. While specific contacts for the grant are not named, CCCF can be reached at (719) 204-5107 or through their website, www.chaffeecommunity.org. Mailing inquiries can be directed to PO Box 492, Buena Vista, CO 81211.